From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Janice Hamilton Executive Director Manitoba Council for International Cooperation About Janice Janice has been with the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC) since 1987, serving in a variety of roles before becoming Executive Director in 2000. A committed leader in the international cooperation sector, Janice has served at the national level as a Director of Cooperation Canada for many years since 1996. She is also an active member of the Inter-Council Network of Provincial & Regional Councils for International Cooperation. Provincially, she has participated in several Roundtables and most recently was on the Curriculum Advisory Panel for Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning. Janice received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Manitoba) in 2022. Janice is passionate about Public Engagement. She is dedicated to creating meaningful and creative ways to involve more people in international cooperation and seeing the connections between global and local issues, with the goal of nurturing engaged, informed Global Citizens. She has participated in several committees, both nationally and provincially, regarding Public Engagement. MCIC has earned a reputation for delivering innovative and engaging programming in the formal education sector and the larger community. Outside of her professional work, Janice is a strong supporter of the arts. She is an enthusiastic patron of Winnipeg’s cultural scene and holds season tickets to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Our Vision Leaders of tomorrow partner with leaders of today for more just, equitable and sustainable communities. Our Mission The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation is a coalition of individuals, organizations and institutions working in the Atlantic region to build and model just, equitable and sustainable communities, locally and globally. ACIC connects leadership across generations by strengthening members and partners, bridging dialogue and building networking and learning opportunities. ACIC also represents and amplifies the voice of Atlantic Canada and connects the Atlantic with other provincial, national and international stakeholders. Our Strategic Plan | 2024-2029 We engage Atlantic Canadians in issues related to international development, global solidarity and social justice. Through our public engagement work, we aim to give Atlantic Canadians the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to become active global citizens. Our rich and vibrant coalition is united by a strong commitment to build a more just, equitable and sustainable world. Our Values Who We Are Our Five-Year Outlook By-Laws & Policies By-Laws Code of Ethics Risk Management Framework Policy on Preventing & Addressing Sexual Violence As a member-based network, we are guided by a set of by-laws and code of ethics. Download our by-laws, code of ethics and risk framework to learn more about the frameworks within which we work towards our vision and mission. If you'd like to talk to us about these, please reach out to us admin@acic-caci.org . Annual Reports Download our annual reports to learn more about our programs, our key achievements over the past years, our strategic initiatives, our impact, and for an overview of our organization's financial statements. 2022 - 2024 2019 - 2020 2017 - 2018 2015 - 2016 2013 - 2014 2021 - 2022 2018 - 2019 2016 - 2017 2014 - 2015 Financial Statements 2023-24 2018-19 2013-14 2022-23 2017-18 2021-22 2016-17 2020-21 2015-16 2019-20 2014-15

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From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Ambassador Lilly Nicholls (Retd.) Former Canadian Ambassador Government of Canada About Lilly Lilly Nicholls is a retired Canadian diplomat with 30 years of experience whose work spans across six continents and includes leadership roles in government, the UN, civil society, and academia. She has made important contributions to global affairs and international development, with a special focus on global poverty reduction, social justice, and gender equality initiatives. She served as Canada’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh (2022–2024) as well as Canadian Ambassador to Panama (2018–2021). She led the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Research Team that amalgamated and analyzed the evidence base and consultation results for Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP). She is presently a Fellow and Professional in Residence at the University of Ottawa’s School of International Development and Global Studies, where she advised the Dean of Social Studies on the establishment of an International Hub. Dr. Nicholls has a PhD in International Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She has received five Government of Canada Awards of Excellence and was named among the 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians in 2022.

IDW Youth Funding 2026 To celebrate International Development Week (IDW), ACIC is excited to offer funding for youth (ages 15-30) to host their own events! About Eligibility Criteria Application Process Important Dates About the Program To celebrate International Development Week (IDW), ACIC is excited to offer funding for youth (ages 15-30) to host their own events! Events can be around any theme broadly related to global/local solidarity, but they must take place during the week of February 1st-7th, 2026. Events can be hosted by an individual or group of youth and can take place at a school, university, online, at a local business, in the community, or elsewhere. Successful candidates will receive up to $300 towards their event. ACIC will also provide support in setting up and promoting the event. Event objectives are to: Create awareness of global solidarity and IDW in Atlantic Canada Support and celebrate local youth and community members who are using innovative methods to positively impact their communities at home and/or abroad Create opportunities for youth to gain skills in engagement, facilitation, event planning, and more! Application Process Event Requirements: The event will clearly be related to local/global solidarity (reference the Sustainable Development Goals ) The event must clearly outline who will attend, the objectives of the event, and how the event will meet these objectives The event will be creative and interactive to ensure good participation of those attending Show how youth planning the event will ensure good attendance It is VERY important that all events meet provincial public health guidelines. Virtual events are highly encouraged. Note: If your idea is not a traditional event, we encourage you to still apply and provide justification for why it should be funded. Be creative! Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until funding is allocated. Successful applicants will receive up to $300 towards their event, based on the strength of their application/proposed need. For more information contact Jackie at 902.431.2311 or jackie@acic-caci.org Important Dates International Development Week: Between Feb 1st and 7th, 2026 Eligibility Criteria Application criteria: Youth must be between the ages of 15 to 30, living in Atlantic Canada (NS, PEI, NB, NL) The event must take place between Feb 1st and 7th, 2026 Application Details Apply by: December 10, 2024 Learn More

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION David Black Professor International Development Studies, Dalhousie University About David Professor David Black has spent many years back and forth between Ontario and Nova Scotia. Growing up in Downsview, a very multicultural and working class suburban area of Toronto, he was fortunate to live in the midst of many different, and rapidly changing, ethnic communities. His undergraduate university years first kept him in Ontario as he attended Trent University where he got his BA. Then he headed east to Halifax to Dalhousie to work his way through his MA degree. He remained at Dalhousie for his PhD but then found himself back in Ontario for several years, including a SSHRC Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Queen’s University. Then, it was back to Dal when he initially took up a one-year sessional appointment in Dal’s Political Science department, and was then lucky enough to get a tenure-stream position the following year. David Black's research interests focus on Canada’s role in “development cooperation” and in Sub-Saharan Africa (including human security, diplomacy, and the extractive sector); sport in world politics and development; and disability and global development. He has also published on human rights and identity in Canadian and South African foreign policies, and on post-apartheid South Africa in Africa.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Sam Quansah Executive Director Algo Peers About Sam Samuel (Sam) Quansah is an educational innovator and youth development leader with years of experience designing inclusive learning programs and leading community-based initiatives across Ghana and Africa. As Founder and Executive Director of Algo Peers, he drives efforts to expand access to STEAM education by training educators and supporting schoolchildren through practical, community-centred solutions. Sam believes Africa’s youth—the youngest population in the world—are the continent’s greatest asset. He champions development models that centre local youth empowerment, education, and community ownership. Through programs like the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation’s (ACIC) International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) and PhotoVoice, he supports youth to take the lead in addressing local challenges. In just 10 days, Samuel’s team received 336 applications from youth in Ghana eager to join the PhotoVoice initiative, underscoring the growing demand among young people to drive change and community development within their contexts. Co-led by the Connecting to Africa initiative, these programs build meaningful bridges between young people in Ghana and Nova Scotia, Canada, fostering shared learning and global solidarity. One such youth leader, Matthew Thanks, uses short films to raise awareness around water pollution in Northern Ghana—illustrating how grassroots voices can inspire real change. This response reflects a critical truth: while youth are ready to lead, lasting impact depends on funding and partnerships that centre local solutions. To this end, Sam collaborates with school leaders, local governments, and global partners—including ACIC, Connecting to Africa, Global Affairs Canada, and the Ghana Education Service (Cape Coast)—to design a localized funding model that channels resources directly to underserved schools and communities. This approach enables context-specific, community-led solutions to thrive, shifting traditional donor models toward ones that put communities in control of their development. Samuel, a former Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, has mentored hundreds of African youth through the Google Africa Developer Scholarship Challenge, supporting the next generation of tech leaders across the continent. He is also a Mandela Washington Fellow recognized by the U.S. Department of State and completed Leadership for Civic Engagement training at the University of Delaware. Samuel combines this leadership experience with advanced studies as a Master of Business Creation (MBC) candidate at the University of Utah and an Ed.M. candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing on Global, International, and Comparative Education. Samuel’s mission is to co-create sustainable systems that empower African youth and educators to solve local problems on their terms, grounded in community context and led by local leadership. He firmly believes that meaningful development requires local ownership, strategic funding, and partnerships that prioritize and amplify community-driven solutions. By aligning resources with grassroots expertise, Samuel aims to shift traditional models toward ones where communities are the architects of their growth and progress, ensuring lasting impact and true empowerment.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Adiza Abdul-Raifu About Adiza

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Gabrielle Bardall Assistant Professor of Politics Canada Research Chair in Women, Democracy, and Power in the Francophonie, Université Sainte-Anne About Gabrielle Gabrielle Bardall is assistant professor of politics and candidate for a Canada Research Chair in Women, Democracy, and Power in the Francophonie at Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia. She is a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa and a fellow and adjunct professor at the Centre for the Study of Security and Development at Dalhousie University. She has worked on democracy support initiatives in over 60 countries around the world for various UN agencies, bilateral foreign affairs and international non-profit organizations, and as founder and director of the Herizon Democracy consulting group. She specializes in gender, security, and democratization issues, particularly women's political rights in post-conflict and authoritarian states. A former Vice-President of the Parliamentary Centre, she recently worked for Canada's Ambassador for Women, Peace, and Security as Senior Policy Advisor at Global Affairs Canada. Professor Bardall is a graduate of McGill University, Sciences Po Paris, and the University of Montreal. She was awarded the Congressional Fellowship by the American Political Science Association and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Doctoral Scholarship for her work in the field of gender-based political violence.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Caleigh Wong Veteran Research Partner Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs About Caleigh Caleigh Wong is a critical military studies scholar who has recently completed her Master’s in Political Science from McGill University where she attended as a McCall MacBain Scholar. She has testified on parliamentary studies, spoken to the Prime Minister, and been published in a number of journals on the topic of Canadian military culture and reform failure. Caleigh is the co-founder of the Asian Resilience Collective Canada, a non-profit focused on supporting Asian-Canadian civic engagement, and she currently works as a Veteran Research Partner at the Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Vicky Yee Executive Director Women's Fund Fiji About Vicky Vicky’s passion is localising social policy and integrating at grass root development including contributing to youth employment. Prior to joining ILO, Victoria worked at the Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF). With her knowledge on private sector and business growth including MSME development, she brings this knowledge to the agenda of women in motion and development. Victoria holds a Bachelor in Applied Psychology and Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Social Policy and Master of Arts in Diplomacy & International Relations.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION María Inés Cuj Chopén General Coordinator, Administrator, and Certified Permaculturist The Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute (IMAP) About María As IMAP’s Coordinator and Administrator, María Inés Cuj Chopén brings years of experience and passion to the topics of permaculture, biodiversity, food sovereignty, community education, reclaiming ancestral practices and institutional strengthening. With a degree in Public Accounting and Auditing and extensive coursework in social work, Ms. Cuj has a long track record of support for local organizations, including 12 years at IMAP and previously, 12 years as the Finance Director at the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging in San Lucas Tolimán. Through her leadership at IMAP, Ms. Cuj has helped the organization establish greater financial sustainability. She has also worked with youth and local farmers to help them reclaim ancestral knowledge of agricultural practices and the Maya cosmovision, including using the Cholq'ij count of days and the 13 nawales (energies of the day) to understand human beings and nature. She also represents IMAP in Guatemala’s National Network for the Defense of Food Sovereignty (REDSAG). Ms. Cuj is also passionate about sharing IMAP’s vital efforts to promote sustainability, biodiversity, and food sovereignty across borders and has participated in national and international knowledge exchanges and speaking tours, including a 2023 speaking tour in Maritimes Canada.